Method for processing a blood product with a bag set having a multi-way connector

Abstract

The claimed invention refers to a centrifuge intended for processing blood and blood components and with its function based on the effective utilisation of ring type blood processing bags with associated secondary bags and other accessories. The most outstanding feature of the centrifuge, in accordance with the claimed invention, is that its rotor, at the same intended height of the ring bag ( 22 ) inner periphery, shows at least three supports ( 9–11 ) arranged along this periphery and intended to locate the ring bag's inner strengthened periphery edge on guide holes at the same time as the centrifuge and its rotor is equipped with a joint rotating inner lid ( 6 ) which includes a clamp function ( 7 ) that clamps ring bag ( 22 ) securely along and between supports ( 9–11 ). Furthermore, in the invention these supports ( 9–11 ) have, on the one hand, built-in valve functions for communication between the ring bag and the respective secondary bags can be actively controlled and, on the other hand, sterile welding functions for communication between ring bag ( 22 ) and the respective secondary bags when interruption and blocking is required.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for processing a blood product with a device adapted for receiving a bag set having a multi-way connector; a ring bag connected to the multi-way connector; a processed component bag connected to the ring bag; a solution tube connected to the multi-way connector, the solution tube being adapted to be connected to a discrete source of solution; and one or more connecting tubes connected to the multi-way connector, the one or more connecting tubes being adapted to be connected to one or more discrete sources of blood products to be processed; said method comprising:
 connecting one or more discrete sources of blood products to be processed to the one or more connecting tubes; 
 flowing the solution through the solution tube, through the multi-way connector and through the one or more connecting tubes into the one or more sources of blood products to be processed to provide discrete mixtures of solution and blood products to be processed; 
 flowing the discrete mixtures of solution and blood products to be processed through the one or more connecting tubes, through the multi-way connector and to the ring bag for further processing. 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1  in which the discrete source of solution is pre-connected to the solution tube. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the step of connecting a discrete source of solution to the solution tube. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the step of processing the blood products in the ring bag. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the step of processing the blood products in the ring bag to separate the blood components into discrete types of blood components. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the step of processing the blood products in the ring bag to separate the blood components into discrete types of blood components by centrifagation. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, and 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag. 
 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, and 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component hag after the step of processing has been started. 
 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, said processing including centrifugation, and 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag after the step of processing has been started. 
 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, and 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag after the step of processing has been started yet while the step of processing continues. 
 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, said processing including centrifugation, and 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag after the step of processing has been started yet while the step of processing including centrifUgation continues. 
 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, and 
 sensing a blood product during the processing of the blood products in the ring bag. 
 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, 
 flowing a blood product Thorn the ring bag to the processed component bag, and 
 sensing a blood product during the flowing of the blood products from the ring bag. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag, and clamping a connecting tube between the ring bag and the processed component bag. 
 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag, and sealing a connecting tube between the ring bag and the processed component bag. 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the steps of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, 
 flowing a blood product from the ring bag to the processed component bag, and 
 cuffing a connecting tube between the ring bag and the processed component bag. 
 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 1  which further comprises the step of:
 processing the blood products in the ring bag, in which further said step of processing is adapted to be performed with a centrifuge for processing blood components in a ring bag, the centrifuge comprising a rotor which has an outer peripheral space adapted for use with a ring bag and a central space adapted for use with a secondary bag which is connected via a tube to the ring bag, whereby the rotor allows for at least partially emptying the ring bag, and whereby the rotor also includes a shaft and a lid that are rotatable therewith, the rotor also having arranged supports to position the ring bag in the outer space relative to the arranged supports, whereby at least one of the supports comprises a guide groove in which is adapted to be disposed the tube which connects the ring bag and secondary bag, and in which guide groove can be placed a controllable clamp valve, whereby the tube can be blocked by clamping the controllable clamp valve in the guide groove.